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Palin Likely to Be a Part of National Council

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin his one of the few "movement" conservatives mentioned as part of the new GOP branding effort. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to play a role in the National Council for a New America, a new effort led by House and Senate Republican leaders designed to find ways to make the party more appealing to independent voters.

"I understand that Governor Palin is hopefully going to be involved as well," said Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) during a conference call this morning announcing the group's formation.

Meg Stapleton, a spokeswoman for the Alaska governor, did not immediately return an email seeking to confirm Palin's involvement. If she does respond, we'll update the post.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), the leading light behind the National Council, added later that "no one is not invited to join" the group and that the goal is to have "leaders from across the country join this effort."

The initial announcement of the National Council's formation included a virtual who's who of the establishment wing of the Republican party including several 2012 wannabes including former governor Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.) as well as other major party figures like former governor Jeb Bush (Fla.) and Gov. Haley Barbour (Miss.).

Absent from the initial release were the more prominent "movement" conservatives including Palin, Gov. Mark Sanford (S.C.) and former governor Mike Huckabee (Ark.) -- all three of whom are considered potential 2012 candidates.

"a new effort led by House and Senate Republican leaders designed to find ways to make the party more appealing to independent voters."

If this is an effort by Republican CONGRESSIONAL leaders, one of the first things they can do is leash and muzzle Boehner, McConnell, and their choir of "We can't let Obama and the Democrats do THIS!!" chanters. Because whatever they try to tell the undistributed middle to win their loyalty will only come at the expense of that bunch's credibility. Since the Republican Leadership in the House and Senate has none, making them pull in concert with the majority would at least help and the economic and related problems that must be solved before we try to solve the rest of the many problems that self same Republican Leadership bequeathed the country.

Calling on Sarah is their signal to the base, "Ignore our pandering to the center, we really don't mean it, but the center is too dumb to realize that."

If the Congressional Leadership team that intends to try to talk to independents and centrists were truly serious they would have kept Arlen Specter in the Party. It is worthy of note that they actually said good riddance while decrying Arlen's lack of party loyalty.

By the way, Jake D, when the economy turns around inspite of the efforts of the republican Legislative Leadership team, where does that leave you and your spear carriers? My guess is flat, exhausted, without score or libretto, and not even able to pick up the beat.

Palin is a fighter. She is exactly what the conservative party needs right now. I'm appalled that John McCain always wants to move to the center. He tried and he lost! Now it is time for him to step back and let politicians who are willing to fight for God, country, and law and order represent our party. A wussie republican can not win!

It is curious that there are people out there who still believe that Governor Palin appeals only to a fringe of the GOP Right and to religious conservatives. They obviously don't realize that she was elected Governor and retains very high approval (60%+)in a State that has a relatively high proportion of middle-of-the-road Independent voters (43% according to Daily Kos, Dec 2008). Her bitterest enemies in Alaska are on the Republican Right, while some of her best allies have been Democrats. She has sought and secured strong bipartisan support for main planks of her programme. As for religious conservatives, Alaska, according to Gallup, is one of the least religious States in the Union. She has protected the rights of same-sex couples in Alaska, while her position on Gay marraige is the same as Obama's. Nor, depite her personal; convictions and (and practice), does she necessarily believe in stringent laws on abortion. Removing Roe/Wade would merely return decision making to the states. By proposing to remove all restriction on abortion, including partial birth and others, it is Obama, not Palin who is the abortion extremist.

Why is JakeD so embarrassed about his party affiliation that he must consistently misrepresent it? Oh, that's right. The American Independent Party ran Alan Keyes for president. Guess I'd want people to think I was "independent" too.

If you all want to see what an America controlled by the liberal left is going to look like, look no further than California. California is the direct result of liberals taking charge. The are indebt and are asking for a handout from hard working Americans (Republicans / Consevatives). America is following suit under the control of a left-wing nut (Barack). Wake up you liberal buffoons.

michaelfairbanks:
"7. Accept only donations from people, and not corporations (yeah, right, as if you guys get private donations).
Obama beat you 200 bucks at a time."

So if Republicans don't take money from businesses, does that mean the Democrats will stop taking money from labor unions, trial lawyers, and the entire hosts of special interests that fund it's existence?

If you believe all those $200 donations were from millions of individuals, you are less politically aware than you appear.

It's hilarious reading the posts of the lunatic right wing fringe as their ship continues to sink. A mixture of fear, anger and confusion. You have trashed our country long enough. May you enjoy the circular firing squad.

What I really love about all these posts is the hatred and contempt for the Republicans and Sarah Palin. I understand that fear drives your hatred. Fear of the right-wing putting an end to all of the social programs and forcing people like you to take responsibility for your lives. You fear us, because you know that you have awakened the silent majority. Oh, we are the majority, I can assure you of that. We have remained quiet for far too long. Call us what you want, but in 2010 you will be calling us the majority. The end is near for you, and of your time sucking America dry with your social programs aimed at the lazy people of America, while you rob us honest, hard working people of our livelihood. Welcome to the new revolution.

Oh please, oh please. I hope the Republican Party populates its "get relevant and attractive" groups with the likes of Sarah Palin. Within a couple of years it will be the Zombie party--existing but not really alive. Come on let's see Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney (where do they come up with these names for grown men), Huckabee--what a cavalcade. America and the Constitution should be safe for at least a generation.

With all due respect to House and Senate Republican leaders, are you out of your minds?

A polarizing figure like Palin is the *last* thing you want if you wish to broaden your appeal. As much as you find it distasteful, you need a *moderate* republican who is more in tune with the majority of the electorate.

Palin appeals to a certain class of voters, who are now a minority, and given recent demographic changes (immigration and younger people reaching voter age), they are likely to remain so.

investigate all the grants that went to 16 states under Bush's New Freedom Initiative (funded out of the SSAct)-Integrated Services Grants for Healthcare.
Folks, wanna see a healthcare massacre from the Bush Administration???
2005 to 2008.
Call me!

When in the Course of human events and (criminal behavior of the Office of President), it becomes necessary for one party to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

perhaps Sarah can help with all the investigations that will come down the pike that will prove the Bush Administration engaged in -----hmmmm
how do you say it.....
would crooked be a good word now.

"The report issued this morning culminates a nearly two-year investigation into alleged irregularities with grants awarded by the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention during the Bush administration"

Here's what I want: a moderate, Libertarian party that champions efficient, effective government and fiscal restraint. That's exactly NOT what these retreads will offer. They seem to believe that the Religious Right has to be included, and that is repubnant to moderate Libertarians such as myself.

While Obama's prime-time news conference aired on three Big Three broadcast networks -- ABC, NBC, and CBS -- Fox opted out, and instead aired an episode of the drama "Lie to Me." That move seems to have paid off: Fox drew 7.9 million viewers and won the 8pm time slot, according to TVNewser.

There is absolutely NOTHING the republicans can do that will alter their demise. Karl Rove was right about one thing, there is a permanent majority political party in America, thanks to Karl, George, Dick, Rush and Sarah, that party is the DEMOCRATIC PARTY. As usual, Karl and the GOP can't get anything totally correct.

There is absolutely NOTHING the republicans can do that will alter their demise. Karl Rove was right about one thing, there is a permanent majority political party in America, thanks to Karl, George, Dick, Rush and Sarah, that party is the DEMOCRATIC PARTY. As usual, Karl and the GOP can't get anything totally correct.

one of the r's problems--fear of their base, the monster they created:

"So to be a national party we have to put blue and purple states into play. We must be a national party and we must run candidates that can win in every region of the country.

Cornyn's message on what it means to be a national party here seems pretty clear. He was telling this crowd of right-wing activists that the party can't be too ideologically exclusive, and part of politics is to build a broad enough coalition to win.

I spoke to Prof. Larry Sabato about Cornyn's remarks on Tuesday. "Look, this is the guy that tried to get Toomey to recognize reality and jump out of the primary in Pennsylvania," said Sabato. "And Cornyn is as conservative as you can find. So Cornyn gets it, and his leadership gets it. But they're afraid of their own base. They're afraid of losing nominations and primaries and conventions, and that's what it's all about."

The Republicans can come back if they convenced Norm Colemen to do the right thing and concede which they won't do. It will also show their honestly as to doing the right thing. But that is a dream. Its Discraceful that the Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty has not signed the election certificate for Franken, this goes to show the voters again how SICK the Republicans are. They stripped the Stimulus bill of funding for flue vacinations (now we have an outbreak of swine flue), stole the 2000 election from Gore, destroyed our economy, held up nominees for the OBAMA administration and worst, disinfranchizing the voters of Minnesota, this is the worst politics. As a former Republican it makes me sick to my stomach to see how this party has lost its integrity.

“It’s interesting that people say the right has taken over the Republican Party — but no one can say what we’ve done,” Mr. Reagan said. “We’ve been closeted for the last eight years; it’s time for the right to come out of the closet.”

As I stated, I am registered Independent (NOT Republican). I also said repeatedly that Obama would not be SWORN IN as President on January 20, 2009 (and he wasn't). Next canard?

drindl:

That's not the only way it could happen. I also predicted that "If the economy is still in the tank after all these years of Democratic control, Palin could win" too. BTW: I was not thinking about a FEMALE sex scandal.

Oooh! Oooh! We'll start off by referring to Republican voters as "real" Americans. Then we give them our plans for stringent abortion laws. Then we go and call Obama a terrorist for the rest of the time.

the series of idiotic accusations in the post by hrh40 typifies the kind of muddled thinking that exists among Republicans today. FYI, hrh40, The Fix is not primarily designed to "write the news" as you so naively order Cillizza to do. The Fix is a mixture of speculation, rumor reporting, opinion on tactics, and, yes, news. That mixture is what makes it so popular among junkies.

It would be helpful if you got your facts straight before posting something that makes a worldwide idiot of yourself with bizarre accusations not grounded in fact.

You're kidding, right? An "effort led by House and Senate Republican leaders designed to find ways to make the party more appealing to independent voters"?! I thought Palin was on the ticket to keep hardcore Republicans on board while McCain mavericked his way into the good books of independents... It sounds as if the Republicans are so badly out of ideas and people that they're just trying the same Hail Mary pass again and again...

Okay, seriously. If the GOP really wants to be the party of the people, and regain the respect of the majority of Americans, it needs to do the following:

1. Follow the will of the people.

2. People actually want clean air and water.

3. Stop calling Democrats commies and socialists. They're not. They just believe in free markets with wise regulations, like a road with stop signs and stoplights. Sure, you can go where you want and when you want, but you need to follow a few basic rules so that everyone can get around safely.

4. Live consistently with the values you preach. For instance, seek candidates who are on their first marriage, who actually DO go to church, etc., but who don't feel the need to shove religion down someone's throat while at the same time engaging in illicit matters that cause embarassment.

5. Engage in reasonable, friendly dialouge on AM radio and on television, instead of immature locker room bullying.

6. Throw the previous bums to the curb (Palin, McCain, Bush, etc.).

7. Accept only donations from people, and not corporations (yeah, right, as if you guys get private donations).

You did the same thing with the big Congressional fundraiser in June: Publish a story based on speculation, not confirmation, to force the Governor's hand. Then if she doesn't do what you published she would, it's somehow her ineptness. Nope, it's yours.

So if she comes out now and says she's not a part of it, you can gleefully cite your self-created meme that communication is bad between DC and AK.